Vinyl Chloride Monomer (VCM) leaked from a gas-holder of 5000 m3. The gas cloud ignited, resulting in 24 fatalities.
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Formosa Plastics (Illiopolis) Explosion 2004
On April 23, 2004, an explosion and fire killed five and seriously injured three workers at the Formosa Plastics Corporation, IL (Formosa-IL) PVC manufacturing facility in Illiopolis, Illinois. The explosion occurred after a large quantity of highly flammable vinyl chloride monomer (VCM) was inadvertently released from a reactor and ignited. The explosion and fire thatContinue reading “Formosa Plastics (Illiopolis) Explosion 2004”
Pajaritos Explosion 1991
A gas leak involving the pipe rack that runs to the terminal of this petrochemical complex led to an explosion, which occurred near the complex chemical plant, causing additional damage to the pipe rack and resulting in a major gas leak. A powerful second explosion occurred that could be felt more than 15 miles fromContinue reading “Pajaritos Explosion 1991”